Terpinene-4-ol – An active ingredient of tea tree oil
Terpene-4-ol is actually a terpene with a molecular weight of around 154.249. It is seen in Janiperus communis and is one of the fundamental components of Tea tree oil. It is a very active constituent in terms of biological activities. You can also find it in the Nutmeg essential oil.
Terpinen-4-ol has many great uses that we will be discussing throughout this article. For instance, Norwegian farmers utilize the wood of Juniperus communis to build a strong fence as the wood doesn’t rot. This feature is attributed as the Terpinen-4-ol is present in the tree bark.
Medicinal Benefits of Terpinen-4-ol
When we speak of medicine, the constituent exhibits many features of an antibacterial as well as an antifungal agent. This chemical compound is mostly seen in Tea tree oil and melaleuca oil. It is highly responsible with regards to its efficacious antifungal and anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.
Terpinen-4-ol Uses
Tea tree oils that abundantly contain Terpinen-4-ol act as an active therapeutic agent to treat various microbicidal disorders.
As per one of the studies involving the Tea tree oil suggested that the oil proved to be highly effective in the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus treatment. This constituent, when used as a major topical agent, helps to get rid of extra-nasal and nasal colonization of the microorganism.
The study was conducted in 2005 but we don’t hold any concrete evidence of its proper utilization in the industry. An article was published in the year 2008 in American Cancer Society that talked about the Tea tree oil use as an antiseptic.
Terpinen-4-ol is also a potent anti-inflammatory agent that was concluded by the 2000 study that this constituent suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory mediator by activated human monocytes.
Terpinen-4-ol and the Skin Use
When it comes to skin treatment, tea tree oil showed proven results to treat dandruff, acne, lice, herpes, and other skin and parasitic infections.
As per an interesting study that carried out back in 2012 by the National Institute of Health; in terms of effectiveness, 5% tea tree oil is equivalent to 5% benzoyl peroxide and is highly helpful in the acne vulgaris treatment.
In addition to this, a more recommended dosage of this oil, twice a day, and for 6 months can easily cure fungal infection. It has been tested on individuals having a fungal toenail infection as well as athlete’s foot.
Terpinen-4-ol and the antimicrobial activities
A study was conducted to fully understand the anti-microbial and medicinal activities of Terpinen-4-ol that suggested that the tea tree oil perform as great as the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agent. However, the effect of this oil against viruses, fungi, and other bacteria are yet to be studied.
Thus we need to conduct a few more studies to successfully prove the effects of Terpinen-4-ol and this will make this compound one of the most favorable constituent in our therapeutic industry.
So far we have known only a few uses of Terpinen-4-ol but researchers believe that there is a lot more to it that needs to be explored. For this, we can only wait for research studies and clinical trials to be conducted in the near future.
